Self-feeding match case



April 29, 1930. J. F; MARX 1,756,127

SELF FEEDING MATCH CASE Filed Oct. 20, 1928 Inventor f/ohm rigor);

Patented Apr. 29,- 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mm; F. MARX, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR E ONE-HALF T0 GERALD G.

BURNS, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK SELF-FEEDING MATCH CASE Application filed October 20, 1928. Serial No. 313,890.

1 The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pocket match case provided with an automatic device therein that Will feed the matches from the case one at a V time as the user of it may wish.

Another object is to permit the matches to be fed without opening the match case. Another object of the invention is to provide for the feeding of the matches one at a time by a new and simplified feeding device.

These andother objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved match case closed and viewed from the outside.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the match case with the lid raised.

Figure 3 .is a side view of the match case with the lid raised as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section through the bottom of the match case, the section being taken on 5 the line 4", 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5*, 5* of Figure 4 with the parts shown in normal position.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 5*, 5 of Fig- I ure 4 with the feeding device or ejector pulled back against the tension of the spring.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of one of the claws by which the matches are engaged and fed.

It will be seen that the false bottom 7 does I not completely cover the bottom of the box but leaves a slot 17 between it and the side of thebox through which thebottom of the box and the jaw 9 is exposed. When the head 14 is moved to the position indicated bv'Fio ure 6 the jaw 9 travels along under the slot 17 for i a certain distance as long as the spring 10 moves without making contact with the rivets 18 and 19 which are fastened in the bottom of the box or are fastened between the bottom and the false bottom. lVhen the spring 7 10 engages with the rivets 18 an d 19 the sprin is bent in asthe head 14 moves on. This draws the ends of the springs toward each 59 other and pulls the jaw 9 away from the flanged side of the box and pulls it under the false bottom 7.

The matches fill the box as shown in Figure 4 and if the box is tilted with the slot 1'? down, the matches will gravitate in that direction and one match will rest in the slot and rest on top of the jaw 9. When the jaw 9 is moved in the position shown in Figure 6 the match will drop to the bottom of the slot and when the head 14 is released the spring 15 will draw the bow spring 10 to the normal position shown in Figure 5. In so doing the spring 10 will expand as soon as it is free from the rivets 18 and 19 and thejaw -9 will move out and engage the match that has dropped down in the slot and will move it endwise with the jaw. It will'cause the match to be fed out through the opening 20 in the corner of the box a half inch or more so that the user of the match casecan take hold of the match and draw it out of the box. This opening 20 is normally closed by the position of the j a-w 9 to the extent that a match cannot drop out. The match can only get in position to pass through the opening 20 after the jaw 9 has been moved to the position shown in Figure 6.

A jaw 21 similar to the jaw 9 can be put on the opposite end of the bow spring 10 and if a slot is left along the opposite side of the box corresponding to the slot 17 and the opposite corner of the box is provided with an opening similar to the opening 2-0 a match can be fed from that sideof the box by tilting that side of the box down and moving the-button 14 in the manner above described. In such case if the box is full and is held flat the box may feed two matches at the same time.

'Ihe'box is provided with a roughened place indicated at 23 shown on the top 2 on which the matches may be scratched.

In the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates a metal box having a top 2 and bottom 3 of suitable dimensions hinged together on one side at 4. The top of the box neither constitutes or contains any part of this invention, it being simply a" metal lid with a flanged edge that engages the flanged edge of the, bottom of the box, and locks thereto with a suitable clasp, which is formed by indenting both the bottom and the top as indicated at 5 and 6. V

' In the bottom of the box is placed a false botton'r partition 7 which is raised above and separated from the bottom 8 so as to leave space between them in which the feeding and ejecting mechanism is held and in which itmoves. This feeding mechanism n consists of a aw 9 mounted on one end of a JOHNF. MARXQ bow spring 10 which is carried by a clip 11. V, V

This clip is made of sheet metal whichis bent around the wire, the two sides of which clip arefastened together by a rivet 12 which rivet Vextends. through a slot 18'inthe bottom 7 of the box and has alarge head 14 on the outsideof the bottom by which the clip can be movedfrom outsidefthe box and by which it holds itselfin place. Fastened to the clip is one end of the spring 15. The other end .of the spring is fastened to the false bottom 7 at 16. The normal position of thespring 15 and the bow spring 10 and the jaw 9 is 7 shown in Figure 5. The operator takes hold of the head-'14: and draws the parts out to the position shown in Figure 6.

V I claim:

1. A match box having a bottom and "a false bottom aboveitwith a space between them, said false bottom being narrower than thebox and leavinga slot between it and one side of the box through which a match can drop to the bottom, an ejeeto'rior feed mechanism below the false bottom consisting of a bow spring, a jaw carried on one end thereof adapted to slide along said slot as the bow springis moved back and forth, a second slot in the bottom of the box by which the middle of the bow spring is guided as it is moved back and forth, a handle attached to the bow spring and extending through the slot in the bottom of the box to theoutside ofthe box by which the bow spring and its jaw may be moved back and forth along the first named 1 slot.

2. A match box having ab'ottom and falsebottom'above it with a space between them, said false bottom being narrower than the box and leaving a slot between it and one side of the box through which a'matc h can drop to the bottom, an ejector or feed mechanism below the false bottomconsist ing of a bow spring, a jaw carried 'on one end slot in the bottomof the box to the outside thereof adapted to slide along said slotas the bow spring is moved back and forth, a

second slot in the bottom of the box by which the middle ofthe bow spring is guided as it is moved back and forth, a handle attached to the bow spring and-extending through the of the box by which the bow spring and its jaw may be moved back and forthalong the first named slot, a pair of rivets fastened between the false bottom' and the bottom 

